Texas Rangers Blog

Rangers’ Mike Napoli shortens swing to produce

ARLINGTON — During their time together in the Los Angeles Angels’ organization, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was quite familiar with Mike Napoli the slugger.

The Mike Napoli at the heart of the Rangers’ offense is a whole different thing to Maddon.

“He’s made a lot of nice adjustments as a hitter,” Maddon said.

The changed Napoli helped the Rangers defeat the Rays, 8-6, in the second game of the divisional series. Rather than swing from the heels, as he often did in the past, Napoli focused on making contact and had two vital singles.

Both hits came against starter James Shields. In the fourth, Napoli stayed with Shields for a nine-pitch at-bat that ended with a two-run single that tied the score at three. Napoli started the two-run sixth with a leadoff single.

Before his two-run single, Napoli fouled three full-count pitches. He did that with his two-strike swing that includes a slight choke up, something Napoli never did with the Angels.

“He’s not just going for the downs,” Maddon said. “That’s why you see the high average and the high productivity.”

As Napoli faced Shields in the fourth, a chant of “Nap-o-lee” swept through the park. Teammate Ian Kinsler said he “got chills” hearing the sound.

“I don’t know how he is up there staying focused,” Kinsler said. “But he had a heck of an at-bat.”